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News from the 2018 State of Maine Championship

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Round Two:

Sugarloaf ChampsProfessional Division: Going into the final round with matching five shot leads, the day would pretty much be a match play situation between Jeff Seavey and John Hickson for the title. These two had been there many times before and this one didn’t disappoint. Neither player ever got more than one shot ahead until the 17th hole. Hickson carded double bogey, bogey on the last two holes, while Seavey made pars on holes 17 and 18, sealing the victory by three shots.

Amateur Division: Brian Bilodeau playing in the final group with the two Professional Division leaders, was tied for low amateur honors with Justin Beauregard after Round 1. Despite having three 7s on his card, he added three birdies and was able hold on for a one shot victory over charging Jason MacDonald.

Senior Professional Division: Having struggled to a 92 in the first round, Northport Golf Club Professional Robb Herron, came back in round 2 and posted a fine 84 to take Senior Pro honors over Bob Mathews by one shot.

Senior Amateur Division: Ed Grossman, playing out of Mingo Springs GC, nearly matched his 87 from Round-1, posting a second round 88 to take the Low Senior Amateur title over Tom Foley by eight strokes.

The Maine Chapter wishes to thanks the entire Sugarloaf staff, especially head pro Zach Zondlo and Assistant Indiana Jones, for making everyone feel welcome at this spectacular venue.

Round One:

The start of Round 1 of the 2018 State of Maine Championship began with everything from a quick rain shower to players sleeping in their cars in the Sugarloaf parking lot. By the time the first group hit their opening tee shots, the sun was starting to come out and we were off to a great day at “The Loaf”.

Jeff Seavey, playing with Pro-Am partner Jason MacDonald, set the early pace playing their 18 holes in just over three hours. Despite the torrid pace Seavey managed a 3-birdie, 4-bogey, one-over 73 to set the clubhouse lead.

Seavey’s fine round was quickly matched by defending champion John Hickson, playing in the third group of the day. Hickson’s round was a little more eventful, carding 6-bogeys and 5-birdies. But when the dust settled, the two long time competitors posted matching 73’s which will get them into the last group of the day tomorrow.

On the amateur side of things, Brian Bilodeau overcame two doubles to bring it home in a 6-over 78. Justin Beauregard later matched the 78 and they go into the final round tied for low-amateur honors.

Pro-Lady Champions
Pro-Lady Champions
Team Bickford – Val Halla GC

2018 Pro-Senior Champions
2018 Pro-Senior Champions
Gary Laliberte, Jeff Turner, Leon Oliver – PGA, Bob Leeman

2018 Pro-Junior Champions
2018 Pro-Junior Champions
Austin Legge, Tony Decker-PGA, Ryan Collins, Tom Higgins

2018 Chapter Award Recipients
2018 Chapter Award Recipients:
Rob Jarvis, Ron Bibeau, Peiter DeVos, Scott Mann, Gary Soule, Todd Lytle, Leon Oliver & Brian Bickford

Prouts Neck Pro-Am Wrap-Up

Despite a few showers in the afternoon, 104 players were treated to near perfect conditions as they navigated around one of Maine’s finest tracks, Prouts Neck Country Club in Scarborough. Hats off to Head Professional Chris Trombly and his staff for sharing a small piece of their golfing heaven. It doesn’t get much better than teeing off on the edge of the Atlantic, with the beach a mere few feet away.

This Pro-Am was the Chapter’s first Scholarship Event of the season. Entry fees were increased by $10 per player and a total of $1,040 was realized for the Maine Scholarship Fund. A second Scholarship event is scheduled for September 24th at Portland Country Club.

With a last name starting with “V”, Portland CC head professional, Dan Venezio probably spent a lot of time at the back of the line in his early years, but at Tuesday, May 22nd’s Pro-Am, Dan stormed to the front with four birdies, carding a 2-under 68 to take low Professional honors. Teeing it up in the 3rd group of the day, Dan got it going in the middle of his round, playing holes 8-13 in 4-under par.

Brett Smestad, playing out of Rochester CC, gave the leader a run for his money with an impressive 7 birdies overall. Unfortunately, Brett’s round also included 6 bogies, giving him a final score of 1-under 69. All was not lost however, as Brett’s playing partners all contributed rounds in the 70’s, propelling them into a 2-shot victory, with a 12-under, two-best ball total score of 128, to take the team component of this event.

John Carey, representing our partners Cleveland and Srixon, made it a memorable day, handing out Srixon golf balls to all the amateurs and providing Cleveland putters and wedges for Closest to the Pin prizes and a couple of Srixon stand bags for a raffle drawing.

Prize winners were:

  • Kyle O’Bryan – Cleveland Wedge
  • John Hickson – Cleveland Putter
  • Scott Mann – Cleveland Wedge
  • Kevin Gaynor – Cleveland Putter
  • Tyler Baker – Srixon Bag
  • Gary Howard – Srixon Bag

Clubs

For complete results click here.

Maine Chapter NEPGA

Maine Chapter NEPGA

Pro-Pro Stroke Play Championship

Monday, May 14th

CONGRATULATIONS TO

CHAD PENMAN & KEVIN “BLAZE” ELLIS

2018 PRO-PRO STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONS!

The first Championship of the season at Webhannet Golf Club has typically been a chilly one and the 2018 Pro-Pro Stroke Play Championship was no different. But despite an overcast low of 50 °F for the morning round, the sun finally broke out for a pleasant afternoon round in the 60’s.

The teams of Shawn Warren & Sean Barrett and Dan Limauro & Chris Kelloway led the way with the first tee time of the day and set a torrid pace, playing their first round in about 3 hours, all the while shooting a 1-under 70 and 2-over 73, respectively. But the low round of the morning belonged to the teams of Chad Penman & Kevin Ellis and John Hickson & Kirk Kimball, who both brought it home in 3-under 68’s to tie for the first round lead.

Having posted a 1-under round of 70 in the morning, the team of Ron Bibeau & Scott Mayer made it interesting in the afternoon. Aided by a five hole stretch, starting on hole #4, where Scott went Eagle, Birdie, Birdie, Par, Birdie, the team carded a low round of the day, 4-under 67, to take the clubhouse lead of 5-under 137.

But it wasn’t over, as Penman & Ellis combined for five birdies and only one bogey to match the 67 with their afternoon round and take home the first crystal of the season, with a two shot victory. Interestingly they were the only team of the day to walk and credit must also go to their friend Peter Vreeke who was a big part of the tree man team, looping the 36 holes with both bags.

Spring Meeting

The 2018 Maine Chapter Spring Meeting was held on April 17th at the Woodlands Club in Falmouth. About 45 PGA professionals attended. The agenda opened with presentations from Chapter President Tony Decker, PGA and Operations Manager Don Doyon. Also speaking were Ron Bibeau, PGA Section President and Rob Jarvis, PGA, president of the NEPGA Foundation. Special guest Brandy Cain, from the Travis Mills Foundation, was presented a $1,000 check from the NEPGA Foundation.

District Director, Brian Bickford, PGA followed with his report as did Doug VanWickler, PGA host club head professional, who presented the 2018 Chapter Awards. Next came committee chairs; Scott Mayer, PGA (Education); Brian Bickford, PGA (Junior); Dan Limauro, PGA (Scholarship) and Peiter DeVos, PGA (Tournament).

Mike Packard, PGA  and Brian Bain, PGA from PGA National and Dave McAdams, NEPGA Director of Operations rounded out the presentations. A State of the Industry – Round Table educational seminar was held after lunch.

Thanks go to the sponsors who were present at the meeting. Without these partners our tournament schedule and programs could not exist.

For a complete recap of the meeting go here.

Logos

NEPGA Foundation Foursomes Auction

The New England PGA Foundation, in partnership with our NEPGA Chapters and PGA Professionals, is excited to announce a new fundraising initiative for 2018 – the Foundation Foursomes Auction!  Courses from around New England have donated rounds for golfers to bid on, which went live Tuesday, April 17th at 9:00AM.

This auction is open to the public, and all proceeds will benefit programs that fall under the NEPGA Foundation’s Three Pillars – Youth, Military and Diversity & Inclusion – with the intention to improve lives through the game of golf.

The auction will run from April 17 through May 28 (Memorial Day), and all rounds are eligible for the 2018 season. For more information or to bid on rounds of golf click here.

Please share with anyone who enjoys golf and giving back!